on michelle abounds, a.b. >> well, white house they hold the cards in this tax rate debate on the republican side although the house speaker always comes off, i think as infinitely reasonable in his presentations, it's getting pretty frustrating. the feeling in the back room and in these discussions between the speaker and the president is as the president indicated about his optimism, yes, the republicans are going to bend on revenue or rates. probably rates. but they are not going to december 11th. to admit it now they would have to have something in exchange. so when the president says show us your entitlement reform. show us your spending cuts, the republicans are in a corner where they can't say well for this we would ask this because they don't want to say we would raise taxes. but they are probably going to do it on december 30th. the president knows that. it's up to him really if he wants to lead on this and not jump over the cliff which republicans suspect he does. he would have to really come over with a real middle of the road offer that would allow the republicans a win when they